I was born and raised in Rasht, the city this art is named for. I trained as a physician in Tehran, and served in the Health Corps (Sepah-e Behdasht) in western Iran in fulfillment of my national service. I then came to the United States for postgraduate training, and practiced medicine for about four decades. In retirement I have divided my time between gardening and research into the art of Rashti embroidery. I live in Pennsylvania with my lovely wife; we have two children and four grandchildren.
I first encountered Rashti-Duzi on a visit to Iran in the early 1980s. I had grown up in the city the art is named for and knew nothing of it — not the work, not its history. I began collecting, and the collecting became research.
What follows is my own research and interpretation. Very little has been written about this art, and I have had to piece much of it together. If you have any information, or if you are a descendant of a Rashti Duz, I would appreciate your input to help complete this site. I am grateful for any recommendations, suggestions, additions, corrections, and critiques, and I warmly encourage academics and students to pursue future research in this field.